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A study of more than 6,000 asthma patients showed that those who took statins in addition to inhaled corticosteroids were 33% less likely to go to the emergency room or be hospitalized. The finding adds to other benefits that reportedly come with cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as protecting against Alzheimer's disease and reducing the risk of pneumonia-related deaths.

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A quality improvement initiative that used a diagnostic scoring system and daily interdisciplinary meetings helped reduce one hospital's all-cause readmission rates for pneumonia patients from 20.7% to 13.2%, researchers reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians. Rates for pneumonia-related readmissions decreased from 10.5% to 3% and diagnostic accuracy improved, data showed.

Adults with pneumonia who were already taking Pfizer's Lipitor, AstraZeneca's Crestor or other cholesterol-lowering statins had a lower mortality rate compared with nonusers in the six months after diagnosis, according to a study in the British Medical Journal. The finding appears to support previous evidence that lowering cholesterol levels might strengthen the immune system to fight infections.

A study of more than 6,000 asthma patients showed that those who took statins in addition to inhaled corticosteroids were 33% less likely to go to the emergency room or be hospitalized. The finding adds to other benefits that reportedly come with cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as protecting against Alzheimer's disease and reducing the risk of pneumonia-related deaths.

A new study found diabetes is linked to a 25% to 75% increased risk of hospitalization due to pneumonia. The researchers said diabetics should receive pneumonia and flu vaccines and improve glycemic control to prevent pneumonia-related hospitalization.

An FDA panel is set to decide Wednesday whether to recommend approval for the use of GlaxoSmithKline's rotavirus vaccine Rotarix in children. A review released by the agency on Friday reported an increased rate of pneumonia-related deaths among vaccinated infants in clinical trials, but noted that it was unsure if the vaccine contributed to the deaths. Glaxo, however, declared that is confident of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, which is already available in more than 100 countries.